Well, the whole point of conformation shows is to promote an ideal of your breed, and then create more just like it. There's no talent there, nothing but genetic potential on the paw, so to speak, so it does kind of make sense that they have to be able to reproduce. Funny about AKC conformation, it's so impervious to morality - if the standard says your breed should be cow-hocked and sway-backed and prone to aggression, that's what you breed for. Not that any breed standard actually says this, but they could, theoretically.

In a related question, in countries where they require performance testing as part of conformation championships, can the dogs be neutered/spayed?

There are more than enough unwanted dogs in this world, so why not?
It you take the perfect, and I mean the best dog you can find, and neuter him, is he still not the perfect respresentation of his breed?

Why do all show dogs have to reproduce? How would you feel if your dog caught something that could have been prevented with a neuter, but the judges refuse to let you neuter your dog if you want to show?

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Last edited by misticaleclipse; 11-07-2006 at 10:10 AM.
Reason: spelling

I think they should allow it . . . After all, any given show dog could be "shooting blanks" or have internal reproductive problems that meant he/she couldn't reproduce anyway. Besides, couldn't people just collect and freeze sperm from a dog, neuter it, and still be able to let the dog "reproduce" through artificial insemination? It's true that neutering alters a dog's "natural" appearance, but so does docking and cropping.

Anyway, it's the owner's choice whether to breed their dog. Someone could have a show dog who won more "best of breeds" than anyone else in their breed and still choose not to breed their dog (perhaps because it looks splendid but got a poor grade on its OFA and PENNhip) . . . in which case the end result would be the same as neutering (i.e., no puppies.) It's the owner's choice whether their dog reproduces and spaying/neutering would merely be an extension of that choice.

At the very least, I think older bitches should be allowed to be spayed and shown. Why should a nine year old bitch have to go through heats just because she's still an excellent example of her breed? No reputable breeder is going to breed her anyway, at that age.

As a breeder, I show my dogs to get other opinions on whether or not my dogs conform to the standard. If I have a dog that takes me two years of heavy showing to even get it's championship, maybe I need to take a look at my breeding program, and maybe that dog shouldn't be bred (in the US, I mean showing when there ARE majors to get that CH).

The original purpose of showing was to prove whether or not a dog should be bred, and to promote dogs you did breed. Testicles in boys are an issue. A boy with only one testicle should not be bred, as monochordism is inheritable and can affect fertility. "Retired" show dogs that are spayed/neutered (NOT necessarily retired breeding dogs), can show at Specialties that offer the altered classes. Also, I *believe* that altered dogs/bitches can be shown in the Stud Dog and Brood Bitch classes of Specialties as well, but don't quote me on that one.

I think they should allow it . . . After all, any given show dog could be "shooting blanks" or have internal reproductive problems that meant he/she couldn't reproduce anyway. Besides, couldn't people just collect and freeze sperm from a dog, neuter it, and still be able to let the dog "reproduce" through artificial insemination? It's true that neutering alters a dog's "natural" appearance, but so does docking and cropping.

Very good point, I never thought about a dog shooting blanks
Hmmm, you got people thinking now, they might require samples for every show to prove that the male is able to produce

In my opinion a dog if breed for a specific job ie herding, retreiving ect,should not be able to set toe one into a confirmation ring until they have proved that they can perform the job they have been breed for. Then and only then should a dog go into the confirmation ring. Way too many breeds have been destroyed by the AKC standard. I wont even touch most of American bred lines of alot of breeds. Too much is put on the coat, the way the teeth are ect. to each of these I say yes but can this dog- hunt, herd, retreive, course? What ever is required...if not how is it improving the breed? Have you ever seen a German Shepherd actually herd or a Standard Poodle retreive water fowl? NOPE not likely and if you have then you are one of the lucky few